Strandline Resources has taken another important step towards development of its Coburn mineral sands project in Western Australia by appointing Macmahon as the principal contractor to provide site-wide civil and bulk earthworks construction services for the project. The scope includes construction of a 43 km bitumen sealed access road connecting the mine with the North West Coastal Highway, installation of other site roads, bulk earthworks pads, dams and drainage associated with the mine and process infrastructure.

The contract is a key early works package to establish access and construction pads across the various project areas, including the accommodation village, processing facilities, power station, bore fields and site offices and buildings (amongst other areas). The parties have agreed final contract documentation with special provisions relating to schedule, cost, safety and environment, quality, local content and indigenous engagement. The agreement is subject to conditions precedent regarding the development of the project and Strandline releasing a formal notice to proceed to commence the works under contract.

Macmahon’s experience in civil and bulk earthworks construction and bulk material mining, means it is well credentialled to meet Coburn’s early development requirements. Macmahon’s execution plan incorporates the use of local procurement initiatives and specialist sub-contractors to support the construction works, as well as aligning strongly with Strandline’s approach to health,safety and environmental and indigenous engagement.

Strandline Managing Director Luke Graham saidthe contract marked another key step towards the start of construction at Coburn. “This commercial milestone is the first of a series of material project contracts to be awarded as part of project financing in preparation for construction and financial close.”

Graham said: “We are pleased to further our relationship with Macmahon and look forward to delivering the construction works safely,on time and budget. Coburn has a world-scale ore reserve, situated in a Tier-1 location, we have binding offtake agreements in place with major customers, reputable contractors on board and project funding activities progressing rapidly.”